Boston Turkish Festival Film Competition: Borders, Myths & Human Resilience

LIFE BEYOND BORDERS / Sınırsız Hayatlar. Directed by Haydar Demirtaş. Doc. / 62 min. / 2026. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 | 6:30 p.m.

In the shadow of the long-standing border disputes between Iran and Iraq, the mountains bear silent witness as mules, laden with diesel, fabric, and cigarettes, carry not only goods but human destiny itself. Life Beyond Borders bears witness to this unseen world and its silent journeys — it is a portrait of humanity suspended between borders.

LOVE AND OTHERS / Aşk ve Diğerleri. Directed by Berna Sitera Değirmen. Short / 20 min. / 2025. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 | 7:30 p.m.

Zeynep and Can are new lovers. One night, while cycling, they are stopped by the police. During the ID check, it turns out Zeynep has a record due to her participation in political protests. The officers disapprove of their relationship, leaving Can torn between love and the pressures of identity.

SUPERMAN FELL INTO THE STEPPE / Süpermen Bozkıra Düştü. Directed by Serdal Altun. Short / 18 min. / 2026. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 | 8:00 p.m.

Abandoned by his family due to economic hardships, Kâzım is forced to work in a circus job found by his friend, wearing a Superman costume. It is the tragicomic story of a man struggling against poverty and social pressure while trying to maintain his dignity.

I AM 12 THOUSAND YEARS OLD / Ben 12 Bin Yaşındayım. Directed by Batuhan Karadağoğlu. Doc. / 32 min. / 2026. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 | 8:00 p.m.

Gökhan, who lives in a small village hidden among the mountains of Kars, centers his life around the rock carvings he encountered years ago while wandering in the mountains. These lines etched into stone—ignored by the state, academics, and even the villagers—are, in his eyes, the voice of the past.

WHY I CAME TO AMERICA: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MY GRANDFATHERS / Neden Geldim Amerika’ya: Dedelerimin İzinde. Directed by Mesut Gengeç. Doc. / 46 min. / 2026. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 | 9:00 p.m. NON-COMPETITION

Mesut Gengeç has been listening to the stories of his two grandfathers, who emigrated to America in the 1900s, and his mother’s uncles since he was a child. Years later, he sets out on a journey through both Türkiye and the U.S. to trace their footsteps.